Remote configuration of automatic response settings

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for remotely configuring automatic reply message settings. The system comprises an email server configured to receive email messages addressed to an email address allocated for a user. The email server is configurable to generate an automatic reply message in response to receiving email messages addressed to the email address, to examine each received email message addressed to the email address for one or more specified conditions, and to execute one or more specified actions configuring settings for the automatic reply message when the one or more specified conditions are met by a received email message addressed to the email address.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/027,015, filed Feb. 6, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to electronicmessaging, and more particularly, to configuration of automaticresponses to electronic messages.

2. Description of Background

In computer communication networks, one method of communication iselectronic mail (email), in which a sending user prepares and sends amessage over some form of computer network to a receiving user, usuallyon a remote system. Most email client applications, which are front-endcomputer programs that are typically used to maintain a message listidentifying messages received for reading and processing by therecipient, also provide software to facilitate writing, replying to,forwarding, deleting, and filing emails. Because email messages can besent at any time across the world as easily as across the office, to agroup of people or a single recipient, without the user leaving his orher desk, email can provide considerable benefits over traditional paperbased memos and postal systems. Email has become a ubiquitous means ofcommunication for both business and personal use.

Many email client applications also include additional functions orutilities with configurable settings. These functions may provide for,for example, message filtering, message redirection, directing a copy ofa message to be saved in a particular folder, automatic messagesignature settings, and autoresponders to generate automatic answerssuch as “out-of-office” or “vacation” reply messages in response toincoming messages on behalf of a recipient who does not expect bereading or only intermittently reading email. For example, duringperiods of travel for a user, out-of-office autoreply messages can beprovided to inform the senders of incoming messages to an email addressregistered for the user that the messages are unlikely to be read, oracted on, in a timely manner. This is typically implemented by allowingusers to specify a variety of parameters such as the time period duringwhich the user is away, the content of the out-of-office autoreply, thelist of users to whom the out-of-office autoreply is to be sent if mailis received from them, and the like. A user of such a client applicationcan thus enable or disable an out-of-office autoreply message settingfor sending a pre-composed reply email message from an email addressregistered for the user in response to a message addressed to the emailaddress being received by the client application. Such out-of-officeautoreply message settings are typically configurable on a personalcomputer via a client email application, such as, for example, MicrosoftOutlook or IBM's Lotus Notes.

While autoreply messages can be useful for their intended purpose, theconfiguration and management of the settings for such messages can be anuisance. The settings must be manually configured each time a change isdesired in the manner of handling communications when the intendedreceiver does not wish to be interrupted or is otherwise unavailable.Situations can arise in which a user is unable to access the emailclient application used to maintain his or her email account through aterminal or client system. For instance, the email server for the clientapplication may be implemented behind an organizational firewall thatdoes not permit access through external networks, and the user maysuddenly fall sick and be unable to go to the office to access the emailserver through the internal network, in which case the user will beunable to configure the out-of-office autoreply message settings.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for remotelycontrolling out-of-office autoreply message settings for an emailaccount when direct access to the client application for the emailaccount is not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art can be overcome and additionaladvantages can be provided through exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention that are related to a system for remotely configuringautomatic reply message settings. The system comprises an email serverconfigured to receive email messages addressed to an email addressallocated for a user. The email server is configurable to generate anautomatic reply message in response to receiving email messagesaddressed to the email address, to examine each received email messageaddressed to the email address for one or more specified conditions, andto execute one or more specified actions configuring settings for theautomatic reply message when the one or more specified conditions aremet by a received email message addressed to the email address.

The shortcomings of the prior art can also be overcome and additionaladvantages can also be provided through exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention that are related to methods, computer programproducts, and data processing systems corresponding to theabove-summarized system are also described herein.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantagesand features, refer to the description and to the drawings.

TECHNICAL EFFECTS

As a result of exemplary embodiments of the summarized invention,technically we have achieved a solution that can be implemented toprovide a mechanism enabling remote configuration of settings forautoreply messages that are generated by an email server for an emailaddress on behalf of a user registered to that email address. Exemplaryembodiments can be implemented to enable a user registered to an emailaddress to remotely configure autoreply messages setting for that emailaddress without having to directly access the email server for the emailaddress to change the autoreply message settings (such as by logginginto a client application provided on a client platform that iscommunicatively coupled to the email server).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments of the present invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary email system withinwhich exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of ageneral system for sending and handling email messages in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of ageneral process of remotely configuring autoreply message settings for areceiving email address in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system thatcan be used for implementing exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

The detailed description explains exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, together with advantages and features, by way of example withreference to the drawings. The flow diagrams depicted herein are justexamples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps(or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differingorder, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified. All of thesevariations are considered a part of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that theinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thedescription of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinare merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedin relation to the exemplary embodiments described herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention in virtually any appropriate form. Further, the terms andphrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather toprovide an understandable description of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an email system 100 within which exemplaryembodiments of the present invention can be implemented is illustrated.Hereinafter, the term “email” refers to various kinds of electronicmail. For example, the email may be a text email, a voice email, a videoemail, or the like. Exemplary email system 100 includes an email serversystem 102 and a number of client systems or platforms 106, 108, 110operatively connected to email server system 102 via an interconnectnetwork 104. It should be noted that the present exemplary embodiment isnon-limiting. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can beimplemented in email systems that include any number of similar ordifferent email servers and any number of similar or different emailclients operatively connected together via a network. In exemplaryembodiments, the email server(s) and the client application(s) cancommunicate with each other following a client-server model and rely onthe Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) for reliable delivery ofinformation or applications between servers and client applications.

In exemplary embodiments, network 104 may be any suitable network type,such as, for example, personal area network (PAN), local area network(LAN), or wide area network (WAN), and the network may also utilize anysuitable hardware technology to connect devices such as, for example,optical fiber, Ethernet, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), T-1or T-3 link, FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Network), cable or wirelessLMDS network, Wireless LAN, HomePNA, Power line communication, ortelephone line network.

Each of client platforms 106, 108, 110 is a user terminal or otherclient system or device implementing software for and running arespective email client application (that is, 112, 114, 116). Inexemplary embodiments, each of client platforms 106, 108, 110 may be apersonal computer system or a non-traditional-computer digital devicesuch as a personal digital assistant, a pager, a cellular phone, and thelike. Client applications 112, 114, 116 may also be referred to as emailapplications or simply clients and may be implemented in a variety ofways. Examples of email client applications include Microsoft Outlook,IBM's Lotus Notes, Netscape Communicator (or Netscape 8.0), and the AOL9.0 interactive service software (which includes the email function).Other examples of email client applications include Mozilla thunderbird,and web-mail clients such as gmail, hotmail, and the like.

In the present exemplary embodiment, email server system 102 isimplemented by email server software running on a computer system, whichcan be, for example, a server computer, a workstation computer, amainframe computer, or a super-computer. The computer system may alsocomprise a number of computers connected together via a network. Emailserver 102 may therefore exist as multiple separate logical and/orphysical units, and/or as multiple servers acting in concert orindependently, wherein each server may be comprised of multiple separatelogical and/or physical units. The email server software may be, forexample, the Microsoft Exchange email server software, IBM's LotusDomino, the Sun/AOL iPlanet Messaging Server, or the like.

In exemplary embodiments, email server system 102 can be configured tointeract with non-web client applications, web client applications, orboth. Email server 102 may also be configured to function autonomously,that is, with no client. The functions of email server system 102include managing email addresses, receiving email messages, deliveringqueued email messages to client applications, and forwarding emailmessages to their appropriate destinations. The user of each of emailclient applications 112, 114, 116 is registered with an email address,and email server 102 is configured to forward messages among the clientapplications 112, 114, 116 based on email addresses specified in themessages. Email server 102 can additionally comprise one or more userinformation stores that contain information about each user of emailclient applications 112, 114, 116. The one or more information storescan be used to manage interactions between email server 102 and clientplatforms 106, 108, 110.

When a user having a particular email address logs into email system 100through a client application, the client application assumes the emailaddress registered for the logged-in user. The client application thencommunicates with email server 102 to receive all email messages sent tothat particular email address using, for example, the Post OfficeProtocol (POP) or the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). The usermay also send email messages from that email address to other emailaddresses via the client application.

During periods when a user of one of client applications 112, 114, 116will not be checking or will only be intermittently checking messagessent to an email address managed by email server 102 (for example, whenthe user is traveling or sick), the user can be provided with the optionof configuring the email server to provide out-of-office autoreplymessages or alerts on behalf of the user to inform senders of incomingmessages to the email address registered for the user that the incomingmessages are unlikely to be read, or acted on, in a timely manner. Forexample, a user of Microsoft Outlook can configure automated “Out ofOffice” messages using the “Out of Office Assistant” setup toautomatically respond to incoming email messages. In exemplaryembodiments, this option can be implemented by allowing the user tospecify a variety of parameters such as, for example, the time periodduring which the user is away, the content of the out-of-officeautoreply, the list of users to whom the out-of-office autoreply is tobe sent if mail is received from them, and the like. The user can thusenable or disable an out-of-office autoreply message setting for anemail address for sending a pre-composed reply email message in responseto a message addressed to the email address being received by the clientapplication.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be implemented toprovide a mechanism through which a user can remotely configure theout-of-office autoreply message option settings for a particular emailaddress registered for the user. In exemplary embodiments, this remoteconfiguration can be achieved by having the user send an email messagehaving particular identifying contents to the email address for whichthe out-of-office autoreply message settings are to be configured. Suchan email message can, for example, have particular contents instructingthe email server to enable the out-of-office message option for theemail address. Exemplary embodiments can thus be implemented to providea mechanism through which a user can configure the out-of-officeautoreply message settings for an email address without accessing aclient system or platform that is operatively connected to the emailserver for the email address. Rather, the user can access a differentclient system or platform to generate and send an email message to theemail address containing instructions for configuring the out-of-officeoption settings for that email address from another email address.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a general system 200 for sending and handling emailmessages containing autoreply message configuration instructions for areceiving email address is shown. In the present exemplary system, asending client platform 202, which is a system or device running anemail client application that is operated by a user and owned by,managed by, operated by, or otherwise associated with an outbound emailserver 204, is connected directly or indirectly through one or morenetworks to a wide area network (WAN) 206 (for example, the Internet).The user can thus operate the email client application running onsending client platform 202 to compose email messages and to send themessages from a sending email address. For purposes of illustrating asimple example, a single sending client platform is shown in FIG. 2. Inexemplary embodiments, however, there may be any number of clientsystems or platforms all communicatively coupled to WAN 206 and eachrunning an email client application that may be used to send emailmessages.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a receiving client system orplatform 208 is also connected to WAN 206. Receiving client platform 208is configured to run an email client application that is owned by,managed by, operated by, or otherwise associated with an inbound emailserver 210 and can be operated by the user to access messages deliveredto the receiving email address. For purposes of illustrating a simpleexample, a single receiving client platform is shown in FIG. 2. Inexemplary embodiments, however, there may any number of receiving clientsystems or platforms each communicatively coupled to WAN 206 throughinbound email server 210 and each configured to run an email clientapplication that may be operated by the user to access messagesdelivered to the receiving email address.

In exemplary embodiments, WAN 206 can be a circuit switched network,such as the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN), a packet switchednetwork (which can be a wide area network (WAN), such as the globalInternet, a private WAN, a telecommunications network or any combinationof the above-mentioned networks), a wired network, a wireless network, abroadcast network, or a point-to-point network.

In exemplary embodiments, the systems of client platforms 202 and 204can be any of a wide range of suitable computing devices having Internetaccess and providing email capabilities such as one or more personalcomputers (PCs) (for example, IBM or compatible PC workstations runningthe Microsoft Windows operating system or Linux OS, Macintosh computersrunning the Mac OS operating system, or equivalent), Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs) and other handheld or portable electronic devices,palm top computers, mobile handsets, smart phones, game consoles, or anyother suitable information processing devices.

Often, a user will not have access to a personal computer (for example,when the user is traveling). In the present exemplary embodiment,sending client platform 202 is depicted as a handheld electronic device.Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld electronic devices include, for instance, PDAs, handheldcomputers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, mobile handsets, and thelike. In general, a handheld electronic device can comprise smallgeneral computing device having a processing unit that is capable ofrunning one or more application programs (such as an email clientapplication), a display, and an input mechanism that is typicallysomething other than a full-size keyboard. The input mechanism may be,for example, a keypad, a touch-sensitive screen, a track ball, atouch-sensitive pad, a miniaturized QWERTY keyboard, or the like. Ahandheld electronic device may also feature wireless communicationcapability.

In exemplary embodiments, the email client applications running onsending client platform 202 and receiving client platform 208 can be anyof a myriad of email clients, which can range from proprietary emailclients (thick clients) to web-based interfaces that retrieve emailmessages in which the user agent function is provided by a Web serverand/or a back-end program (for example, a CGI program) running on thesame system as the corresponding email server. At any time, the user canoperate the email client application running on sending client platform202 to compose one or more email messages containing autoreply messageconfiguration instructions and to cause outbound email server 204 tosend the one or more messages for delivery to the receiving emailaddress. The one or more configuration messages are received at inboundemail server 210 and can be retrieved by the email client applicationrunning on receiving client platform 208.

Each email server 204, 210 may comprise any type of general-purposemessaging gateway, also known as a Message Transfer Agent (MTA), mailrelay, email relay, email router, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)server, QMQP server, or email gateway, which is specially programmed toperform email message routing functions. Generally, when a message isdelivered to a messaging gateway, the gateway must determine whether itcan deliver the message locally to its own message store or if it mustroute the message to another messaging gateway. If the message is sentto another messaging gateway, the other messaging gateway must make thesame decisions about the message—deliver locally or route to yet anothermessaging gateway. In this way, messages are routed throughout, forexample, the Internet, until they reach the intended recipient. After amessage is successfully delivered to and stored on the correct messaginggateway, the recipient can then retrieve the message. For purposes ofillustrating a simple example, one of each email server is shown in FIG.2. In practical exemplary embodiments, however, there may be any numberof outbound, inbound, and intermediate messaging gateways, and the useof any number of such elements is contemplated. In exemplaryembodiments, the systems of the one or more messaging gateways can be aserver system such as, for example, SUN Ultra workstations running theSunOS operating system, IBM RS/6000 workstations and servers running theAIX operating system, or an IBM zSeries eServer running z/OS, z/VM orLinux OS.

In exemplary embodiments, when a new email message arrives for deliveryto the receiving email address, inbound email server 210 can beconfigured to process the message according to one or more processingrules defined by the user. Email processing rules are user-definedinstructions for managing incoming and outgoing email messages. Rulesexecute specific tasks when user-defined criteria are met. Each ruleincludes conditions and actions, and may also include exceptions.“Conditions” are the criteria that are available for making new rules. Arule will not be executed unless its conditions are satisfied. “Actions”are the events that occur when the rule's conditions are met. Each ruletypically contains at least one condition and one action. “Exceptions”allow a user to identify criteria or conditions that will prevent a rulefrom executing. For instance, these rules can provide a mechanism forpreventing spam and other unnecessary email messages from clogging themailbox for the receiving email address. An example of such a rule wouldbe one defined to instruct email server 210 to direct a message to aseparate folder if the message is from a particular sender, in whichcase the email server would be configured to inspect the email addressesof the senders of received messages to determine whether each message isfrom that particular sender. Another example of such a rule would be onedefined to instruct email server 210 to delete an email message if thebody of the message contains a particular keyword, in which case theemail server would be configured to parse the body section of receivedmessage to determine if the message contains that particular keyword.

In the present exemplary embodiment, when a new email message arrivesfor delivery to the receiving email address, inbound email server 210can be configured to process the message according to rules defined bythe user that instruct the email server to configure the autoreplymessage settings in a certain manner when the received message satisfiescertain conditions. For example, such a rule may instruct email server210 to enable or disable an autoreply message if the received message issent from a particular email address and/or if the received messagecontains particular terms in a particular format (for example, apassword or other specific keyword selected by the user). In exemplaryembodiments, such a rule may also be implemented to instruct emailserver 210 to configure other autoreply settings by, for example,setting the time period during which the autoreply message is to besent, creating or editing the content of the autoreply message, settingthe list of users to whom the autoreply message is to be sent if mail isreceived from them, setting an alternative email address to whichreceived messages are to be sent, and performing other like actions, ifthe received message satisfies certain conditions. Once such a rule isdefined by the user, email server 210 will be configured retrieveconfiguration instructions from received email messages and execute thespecific action specified by the configuration instructions. In thismanner, the user is simply required to the send a configuration emailmessage that conforms to a set of predefined conditions for suchmessages, and does not need to directly access the email server for theemail address to change the autoreply message settings (such as bylogging into a client application through a client system or platformthat is communicatively coupled to the email server).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow chart illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a general process 300 for remotely configuring autoreplymessage settings for a receiving email address is shown. At block 310, auser that is logged into an email client application for a first emailaddress defines a rule instructing the inbound email server for thefirst email address to configure autoreply message settings in a certainmanner when messages addressed to the first email address are receivedand satisfy certain conditions. With the mail rule now configured at theinbound email server, the user will now be able to configure theautoreply message settings for the first email address in a desiredmanner. When it is so desired, the user, at block 320, logs into aclient application for a second email address and generates an emailmessage containing autoreply message configuration instructionsaccording to the rule defined at block 310. In exemplary embodiments,such a configuration message may be generated in a variety of ways. Forexample, the user may manually type the configuration instructions intoan email message using a standard email editor as provided by the clientapplication for the second email address. At block 330, the usertransmits the configuration message to the email server for the firstemail address. To do so, the user may, for example, operate the clientapplication to cause the outbound email server for the second emailaddress to send the message for delivery to the first email address.

In the present exemplary embodiment, at block 340, the configurationmessage arrives at inbound email server for the first email address. Atdecision block 350, the inbound email server accesses the receivedmessage to determine if the message satisfies the conditions for therule defined at block 310. For example, the email server can beconfigured to authenticate the received message according to theparticular identifying contents according to the rule defined at block310. Such an authentication may be performed in a variety of ways, withdifferent levels of security. In one exemplary embodiment, the ruledefined at block 310 can instruct the email server to determine whetherthe subject header or body of the email message includes a password, aparticular digital signature, or other identification mechanism. If theemail server determines that the message satisfies the predefinedconditions, then the email server, at block 360, configures theautoreply message settings for the first email address according to therule defined at block 310. For example, the email server can beconfigured to parse the received message to retrieve certainconfiguration instructions, and then configure autoreply messagesettings according to the configuration instructions in the message. Inexemplary embodiments, these configuration instructions may be providedas an attachment to the email message, or may be provided as textcontained in the body of the email message. In other exemplaryembodiments, the rule defined at block 310 can instruct the mail serveto perform a specified configuration action (for example, enabling ordisabling the autoreply message) whenever a message satisfying thepredefined conditions is received.

At block 370, the email server can handle the message in a usual manner,such as by delivering the message to the mailbox for the first emailaddress. In exemplary embodiments, the email server for the second emailaddress may be also configured to generate a confirmation reply messagein response to any autoreply configuration email messages receivedconfirming execution of the configuration action according the ruledefined at block 310. For example, the email server may transmit thisreply back to the sending email address of the configuration message, ormay transmit the reply to a different email address (for instance, anemail address specified according to rule defined at block 310). Such aconfirmation message could inform the sender that the configurationmessage was received and understood, and that the autoreply messagesettings were reconfigured properly. This confirmation message couldalso serve as a time stamp for the configuration action or an indicationof whether the configuration message was a mistake or maliciously sentby another. In exemplary embodiments, the email server could also beconfigured to discard of received configuration messages afterconfiguring the autoreply message settings accordingly.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be implemented toprovide a mechanism enabling remote configuration of settings forautoreply messages that are generated by an email server for an emailaddress on behalf of a user registered to that email address. Exemplaryembodiments can thus be implemented as an email server-based system orsoftware component, which may act cooperatively or in conjunction withan email client system or software component, or with web documents orweb applets in a web browser, for which interactions may occur over acommunications link or network. Exemplary embodiments can be implementedwithin any such email system or software that is capable of enablingusers to configure automated responses.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be implemented toenable a user registered to an email address to remotely configureautoreply message settings for that email address without having todirectly access the email server for the email address to change theautoreply message settings (such as by logging into a client applicationthrough a client system or platform that is communicatively coupled tothe email server). Rather, the use of email messages as a configurationmechanism as described herein in relation to exemplary embodimentsallows a user having access to virtually any client system or platformwith a link to the Internet and email capabilities, whether coupled ordecoupled to the web server, to remotely configure the autoreply messagesettings, even where the email server is shielded by a packet-filteringrouter, a proxy-based firewall, or any other network security system.

Examples of such autoreply messages for which exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention can be implemented include “out-of-office” or“vacation” reply messages that are generated in response to incomingemail messages on behalf of a recipient who does not expect be readingor only intermittently reading email. Exemplary embodiments can also beimplemented to enable remote configuration of settings for other typesof autoreply messages such as, for example, those utilized by businessenterprises as email marketing tools to immediately provide a follow-upto customer inquiries made by email and those utilized by providers ofelectronic mailing lists to confirm subscriptions, unsubscriptions,posts, and other list activities.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be realized inhardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Exemplaryembodiments can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computersystem or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spreadacross several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computersystem—or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods describedherein—is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software couldbe a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can also be embedded in acomputer program product, which comprises all the features enabling theimplementation of the methods described herein, and which—when loaded ina computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer programmeans or computer program as used in the present invention indicates anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a system having an information processing capabilityto perform a particular function either directly or after either or bothof the following a) conversion to another language, code or, notation;and b) reproduction in a different material form.

A computer system in which exemplary embodiments can be implemented mayinclude, inter alia, one or more computers and at least a computerprogram product on a computer readable medium, allowing a computersystem, to read data, instructions, messages or message packets, andother computer readable information from the computer readable medium.The computer readable medium may include non-volatile memory, such asROM, Flash memory, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanentstorage. Additionally, a computer readable medium may include, forexample, volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, andnetwork circuits. Furthermore, the computer readable medium may comprisecomputer readable information in a transitory state medium such as anetwork link and/or a network interface, including a wired network or awireless network, that allow a computer system to read such computerreadable information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 400 that canbe used for implementing exemplary embodiments of the present invention.Computer system 400 includes one or more processors, such as processor404. Processor 404 is connected to a communication infrastructure 402(for example, a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Varioussoftware embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computersystem. After reading this description, it will become apparent to aperson of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s) how to implement theinvention using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

Exemplary computer system 400 can include a display interface 408 thatforwards graphics, text, and other data from the communicationinfrastructure 402 (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on adisplay unit 410. Computer system 400 also includes a main memory 406,which can be random access memory (RAM), and may also include asecondary memory 412. Secondary memory 412 may include, for example, ahard disk drive 414 and/or a removable storage drive 416, representing afloppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc.Removable storage drive 416 reads from and/or writes to a removablestorage unit 418 in a manner well known to those having ordinary skillin the art. Removable storage unit 418, represents, for example, afloppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by andwritten to by removable storage drive 416. As will be appreciated,removable storage unit 418 includes a computer usable storage mediumhaving stored therein computer software and/or data.

In exemplary embodiments, secondary memory 412 may include other similarmeans for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loadedinto the computer system. Such means may include, for example, aremovable storage unit 422 and an interface 420. Examples of such mayinclude a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that foundin video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, orPROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 422 andinterfaces 420 which allow software and data to be transferred from theremovable storage unit 422 to computer system 400.

Computer system 400 may also include a communications interface 424.Communications interface 424 allows software and data to be transferredbetween the computer system and external devices. Examples ofcommunications interface 424 may include a modem, a network interface(such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot andcard, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface424 are in the form of signals which may be, for example, electronic,electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received bycommunications interface 424. These signals are provided tocommunications interface 424 via a communications path (that is,channel) 426. Channel 426 carries signals and may be implemented usingwire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RFlink, and/or other communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer usablemedium,” and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer tomedia such as main memory 406 and secondary memory 412, removablestorage drive 416, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 414, andsignals. These computer program products are means for providingsoftware to the computer system. The computer readable medium allows thecomputer system to read data, instructions, messages or message packets,and other computer readable information from the computer readablemedium. The computer readable medium, for example, may includenon-volatile memory, such as Floppy, ROM, Flash memory, Disk drivememory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. It can be used, forexample, to transport information, such as data and computerinstructions, between computer systems. Furthermore, the computerreadable medium may comprise computer readable information in atransitory state medium such as a network link and/or a networkinterface, including a wired network or a wireless network, that allowsa computer to read such computer readable information.

Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored inmain memory 406 and/or secondary memory 412. Computer programs may alsobe received via communications interface 424. Such computer programs,when executed, can enable the computer system to perform the features ofexemplary embodiments of the present invention as discussed herein. Inparticular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor 404to perform the features of computer system 400. Accordingly, suchcomputer programs represent controllers of the computer system.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes,substitutions and alternations could be made thereto without departingfrom spirit and scope of the inventions as defined by the appendedclaims. Variations described for exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention can be realized in any combination desirable for eachparticular application. Thus particular limitations, and/or embodimentenhancements described herein, which may have particular advantages to aparticular application, need not be used for all applications. Also, notall limitations need be implemented in methods, systems, and/orapparatuses including one or more concepts described with relation toexemplary embodiments of the present invention.

While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both nowand in the future, may make various modifications without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the present invention as set forth in thefollowing claims. These following claims should be construed to maintainthe proper protection for the present invention.

1. A system for remotely configuring automatic reply message settings,the system comprising: an email server configured to: receive emailmessages addressed to an email address allocated for a user, the emailserver is configured by the user using a first email client applicationrunning on a first client platform that is communicatively coupled tothe email server, wherein the received email message is generated usinga second email client application running on a second client platformthat is communicatively decoupled from the email server; process thereceived email message according to one or more processing rules definedby the user; generate an automatic reply message in response toreceiving email messages addressed to the email address; examine eachreceived email message addressed to the email address for one or morespecified conditions; execute one or more specified actions configuringsettings for the automatic reply message when the one or more specifiedconditions are met by a received email message addressed to the emailaddress; wherein the one or more specified conditions are selected frombeing sent from one or more specified email addresses, containing one ormore specified strings of text in a specified format, containing aparticular digital signature, and combinations thereof, and wherein theone or more specified actions are selected from enabling the automaticreply message, disabling the automatic reply message, setting a timeperiod during which the automatic reply message is to be generated,creating a block of text to be included in the automatic reply message,editing a block of text to be included in the automatic reply message,setting a list of email addresses to which the automatic reply is to besent, and combinations thereof; and wherein at least one of the one ormore specified actions is determined according to a set of instructionsincluded in the received email message and retrieved by the emailserver.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second client platformbeing a device selected from personal computers, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs), handheld computing devices, portable computingdevices, palm top computers, mobile handsets, cellular phones, smartphones, game consoles, and combinations thereof.